F1 2026 starts today
- Thread starter Darrel
- Start date
RITMO is my go to F1 guru. I enjoy it, but he’s really into it.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
F1 is MUCH better than that indy car and NASCAR crap.
Audio 1
Active member
Last night I watched FP1 and enjoyed seeing the new cars on track for the first race weekend.
With all of the changes it should make for an exciting start to the season.
With all of the changes it should make for an exciting start to the season.
Speedskater
Member
F1 races are no longer on US basic cable TV.
They may have to change some of their race locations.
They may have to change some of their race locations.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
A couple of pics when I went to the Monaco Grand Prix from pit row:
I'm late to this thread! I have been following F1 since the 1990s. Been to quite a few races - last one in 2025, Monaco GP.
F1 and the FIA made quite a few changes coming into 2026: new cars (smaller and lighter with less downforce); new drivetrain (power is to be provided by a 50/50 combination of internal combustion and electric motors); new tires (narrower); two new teams (Audi (purchased a legacy F1 team) and Cadillac (completely new team); Honda, Ford and Audi are now officially engaged with engine programs (Cadillac will be using Ferrari for now); and, new TV broadcaster in the US (Apple TV - need a subscription to watch F1 in the US).
As some predicted and expected, the first year of this new formula is going to be a roller coaster. As we saw the last time the F1 formula was changed in 2013, so far in 2026, there is a dominant team (Mercedes). Lots of powertrain issues impacting competition with 4 time world champion Max V. saying that this new era is like playing Mario Brothers and quite unexciting; and, 2 time world champion F. Alonso referring to the new formula as a "battery championship".
What's the main issue? How to manage the use of the batteries during the race to replenish energy and deploy it appropriately to go fast. During the GP in Australia, we saw how cars ran out of power in the straights. Very frustrating for the drivers and really affecting racing.
I did not watch the China GP this past weekend as I was traveling. Based on the reports of the race, there is a lot of work ahead to fix things. Both McLaren's were not able to race. Aston Martin Honda is so bad, the drivers can't race the car more than 25 laps. If this situation does not improve relatively soon (granted, we are only 2 in the season), F1 will loose a lot of fans.
Sorry for the dissertation guys!
F1 and the FIA made quite a few changes coming into 2026: new cars (smaller and lighter with less downforce); new drivetrain (power is to be provided by a 50/50 combination of internal combustion and electric motors); new tires (narrower); two new teams (Audi (purchased a legacy F1 team) and Cadillac (completely new team); Honda, Ford and Audi are now officially engaged with engine programs (Cadillac will be using Ferrari for now); and, new TV broadcaster in the US (Apple TV - need a subscription to watch F1 in the US).
As some predicted and expected, the first year of this new formula is going to be a roller coaster. As we saw the last time the F1 formula was changed in 2013, so far in 2026, there is a dominant team (Mercedes). Lots of powertrain issues impacting competition with 4 time world champion Max V. saying that this new era is like playing Mario Brothers and quite unexciting; and, 2 time world champion F. Alonso referring to the new formula as a "battery championship".
What's the main issue? How to manage the use of the batteries during the race to replenish energy and deploy it appropriately to go fast. During the GP in Australia, we saw how cars ran out of power in the straights. Very frustrating for the drivers and really affecting racing.
I did not watch the China GP this past weekend as I was traveling. Based on the reports of the race, there is a lot of work ahead to fix things. Both McLaren's were not able to race. Aston Martin Honda is so bad, the drivers can't race the car more than 25 laps. If this situation does not improve relatively soon (granted, we are only 2 in the season), F1 will loose a lot of fans.
Sorry for the dissertation guys!
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
I think Hamilton was right (and I'm not a fan of him) when he said 2 weeks ago you need an advanced degree just to understand the rules for when you can use boost, or power, ore regen, or for how long, or for what parts of a lap, or when the moon is in the solar retreat phase during high tide but only high tide in Maine....
It's completely ridiculous.
Have some basic rules, no radio comms allowed so it really is all about the drivers and how the cars are tuned, and let us watch a real race, not one where people remember when Mars is in retrograde.
Also, I find the crew on Apple TV coverage a bit super over animated and excited, especially during the pre-race show.
Ridiculous is being nice. Until this year, maybe I missed a half a dozen races over the last 30 years. I watched a 30 minute summary of Australia two weeks ago and haven't even bothered to play the summary of China's GP a few days ago. I'm just not that interested.
And, thank you for mentioning the broadcast. I did watch the qualifiers two weeks ago and the Australia pre-race in addition to the 30 minute summary - lousy!
And, thank you for mentioning the broadcast. I did watch the qualifiers two weeks ago and the Australia pre-race in addition to the 30 minute summary - lousy!
GSOphile
Active member
I hate the new formula (unapologetically Euro green) and Apple TV distribution. A video game for the super rich and a real turkey! Have gone from an avid fan to no fan.
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Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
That's actually a great way to describe it.
It's like they were talking down to us as phony elitists and they wanted us to be thankfully they were spending their precious time talking to the viewers.
Every comment on even the most mundane thing was presented and hyped by their presentation in a way as to be "you're not smart enough to know why you should be excited by this but you should be".
crwilli
Well-known member
F1 Fan here. Not happy.
Hate the pseudo ‘green’ drive to use batteries (because they are clean -Oh REALLY?), the use of biofuels - Okay, that saves how much green house gas??? Is that a mission the mainstream F1 fan cares about?
I just hope that true F1 historians will get their voice heard as this proceeds because, right now, it’s not good TV.
Happy for Mercedes that they have jumped the field. Happy for Ferrari who seemed to figure out how to get off the line - of course they aren’t close to fast enough on track to keep the lead.
Having a field of ~21 cars with only 4 (2 TEAMS) close to competitive isn’t good entertainment.
Hate the pseudo ‘green’ drive to use batteries (because they are clean -Oh REALLY?), the use of biofuels - Okay, that saves how much green house gas??? Is that a mission the mainstream F1 fan cares about?
I just hope that true F1 historians will get their voice heard as this proceeds because, right now, it’s not good TV.
Happy for Mercedes that they have jumped the field. Happy for Ferrari who seemed to figure out how to get off the line - of course they aren’t close to fast enough on track to keep the lead.
Having a field of ~21 cars with only 4 (2 TEAMS) close to competitive isn’t good entertainment.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
And the propaganda pre-race presentation team was trying to spread it hard before the first race: they said that the purpose of the new dumb-green rules were because (in essence) no manufacturer would be involved in F1 unless they had the rules pushing being eco-nut jobs even further and the fact that Audio got involved proves the new eco-nutjob rules are a "success".
Barf.
They seemed more like they were trying to convince us all was great rather than calling it as it really is - a complete and utter mess.
The solution won’t be easy. Rumors of F1 going back to V8 or V10 engines with sustainable fuel have been shared but that can’t happen for at least another 3 years. Fingers crossed, the engine sound of a V10 at 18K RPMs is amazing - unlikely I’m afraid.
Big B
Active member
I look forward to the benefits of this type of testing. I have a hybrid. I see a gas station once a month/6weeks. I like the quiet and I appreciate the fast. My fast shows up in the higher speeds.(German SUV) Did a trip last summer where the hwy opens up to a three lane/passing lane. My vehicle shone in that 95 to 105 territory. Electricity came on right away while engine built up gas speed.